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getcordial
Participant
October 3, 2024
Question

How to Fix Pen Tool Point Placement Issues in InDesign

  • October 3, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 541 views

Hello. I hope someone might have an answer as I have been looking for a couple of hours now... When I click my starting point using the pen tool in indesign, on release of my mouse, the point appears a mile away to the left. If I close the shape or finish the line and start another one, the first point is placed incorrectly again.

 

I do not know why it has happened. I used the Adjust Layout option for the first time yesterday and I "think" the trouble started then. I have:

  • Updated Indesign now v19.5
  • Saved as new document
  • Reset preferences (CTRL+ALT+SHIFT on program start)
  • tried other documents (same problem)
  • restarted PC
  • Interestingly starting a new document I didnt have the issue
  • I also just discovered that it is only in a few documents in a series that I am doing

 

The video explains it all. 

Any help would be appreciated. I hope its something simple. 🙂

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

2 replies

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 3, 2024

For those interested, I have a whole self-study Pen Tool Practice, available for download. It covers every aspect of vector pen tool drawing in InDesign. I made an Illustrator version, too. You can master the Pen tool. Contact me or visit my website.

Mike Witherell
G
getcordialAuthor
Participant
October 3, 2024

Ok, A bit more digging and I found it... of course it was a stupid issue that seems pretty obvious now (kind of). When I had started the shape with the pen tool, I hadn't seen that an Object Style was already selected. I am using them to align items. When I start my shape, the Object Style was throwing things all over the place. 

I had no idea Object Style applied to newly created objects as I have only ever applied them after I have made an object.

Anyway, mystery solved. Thanks for listening 🙂 hope it helps someone one day.

C
chiba1975
Participant
April 27, 2025

I appreciate you posting this, because the same thing was happening to me as well.

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